Thin Wizards Frontcourt Meets Pelicans Uncertainty in Preseason Test

Washington's short-handed frontcourt could give New Orleans a narrow edge at home in preseason action.

WAS @ NOP Oct 17, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC

Preseason games rarely follow a script, and Friday night's meeting between the Wizards and Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center is likely to be shaped as much by availability as by strategy. With minutes and lineups often managed this time of year, the bench units could decide the outcome.

Washington's frontcourt is the central question. Tristan Vukcevic is out with a hip injury, which removes one big-man option. Anthony Davis is listed as questionable for rest and may be a game-time call. If Davis sits, the Wizards would be missing their top frontcourt player and a second big, which could leave them scrambling to cover the interior. Wing Jamir Watkins is also out with a knee injury, with a long timeline, so Washington's rotation is thinner on the perimeter as well.

New Orleans has its own uncertainty. Dejounte Murray is a game-time decision with a toe injury, and his status affects the backcourt. If he can't go, the Pelicans lose a guard, but that hole looks easier to absorb than Washington's frontcourt shortage. The Pelicans also get the benefit of playing at home.

The Wizards do arrive with momentum. They are 2-0 in the preseason after beating the Knicks and the Pistons, including a 114-108 win over Detroit last Saturday. That suggests they can compete even in an exhibition setting, and it will make this a close game.

Still, the combination of Washington's absences and a possible rest day for Davis tilts the matchup toward the home side. Expect a competitive, rotation-heavy game that New Orleans pulls out late. Pelicans 111, Wizards 108.

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